Nod to 237 state schools for digital literacy project

Vikas Sharma

Tribune News Service

Jammu, May 20

Of the 319 schools proposed by the J&K Government to the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development for implementing the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) scheme, 237 have been found eligible. An amount of Rs 1,185 lakh has also been approved for these schools.

The ministry also found that two schools had incorrect unified district information system for education, two were elementary schools, and eight had less than 15 students enrolled.

The state had also proposed solar panel for all 319 schools, but the ministry approved setting up of solar power systems in only 237 schools with an outlay of Rs 639.90 lakh, which is to be implemented in convergence with the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.

The ICT scheme in schools is a component of the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan. It was launched in December 2004 and revised in 2010 to provide opportunities to students of secondary classes to build their capacity on the ICT skills, besides making them learn through computer-aided learning process.

The scheme is a major catalyst in bridging the digital divide between students of various socio-economic backgrounds and other geographical barriers. It provides support to states/UTs to establish computer labs on a sustainable basis.

As far as the measures for improving the poor status of the elementary education in the state is concerned, Rs 39,606.13 lakh was released to all districts for the construction of school buildings under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan in the last three years.

As per data, 3,039 government-run schools, including 2,457 primary and 582 middle, are functioning in private rented buildings across the state. Of the total 13,175 government-run primary schools in J&K, 8,687 have their own buildings, while the remaining schools are functioning from rented buildings. Similarly, of the total 8,140 middle schools, 582 schools do not have their own buildings.

Central scheme 

• The Information and Communication Technology (ICT) scheme in schools is a component of the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan
• It was launched in December 2004 and revised in 2010 to provide opportunities to students of secondary classes in developing ICT skills, besides making them learn through computer-aided learning process
• The scheme is a major catalyst in bridging the digital divide between students of various socio-economic backgrounds and other geographical barriers
• It provides support to states/UTs to establish computer labs on a sustainable basis